Intelligence and espionage

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), accompanied by outgoing finance minister Yisrael Katz, on June 13, 2021.

Two Israelis arrested for allegedly spying for Iran on Katz: What to know

The police and Shin Bet said that since the beginning of the year, they have foiled 20 cases of Israelis spying for Iran, with 30 individuals indicted.

This picture taken on Jan. 25, 2000, shows a close-up of a postage stamp commemorating Israeli spy Eli Cohen, who was executed by Syria in Damascus in 1965.

Israeli Mossad retrieves entire archive of Eli Cohen from Syria: What we know

The announcement of the secret operation that recovered 2,500 documents from Syria coincided with the 60th anniversary of Cohen’s execution.

Sharvit

Meet Eli Sharvit, Trump critic and Netanyahu's outsider nominee to lead Shin Bet

In a surprise move, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated former Israeli naval commander Eli Sharvit to become Shin Bet chief despite his lack of intelligence experience.

Ronen Bar, chief of Israel's domestic Shin Bet security agency, attends a ceremony marking Memorial Day for fallen soldiers of Israel's wars and victims of attacks at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl military cemetery, on May 13, 2024.

How Netanyahu's sacking of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar could backfire on Israel

The decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar is likely to further erode Israel’s rule of law and democratic principles.

Latest News

Tulsi Gabbard grilled about Assad, Iran views at confirmation hearing

Tulsi Gabbard testifies during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Trump's CIA pick warns of Iran nuclear advancements in confirmation hearing

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for CIA director, John Ratcliffe, appears for a Senate Intelligence confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 15, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Israeli arrested on suspicion of spying, arson for Iran: What we know

This image released by police on Dec. 30, 2024, shows a car allegedly set on fire by Alexander Granovsky, a civilian recruited by "foreign elements."

IAEA's Grossi denies Netanyahu claim Israel hit Iran nuclear facility

Grossi

Irwin Cotler

Canada foils Iranian plot to kill Jewish human rights leader: What we know

The target of the alleged assassination plot, Irwin Cotler, is a fierce critic of the Iranian regime and a staunch supporter of Israel.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the Hebrew calendar anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on October 27, 2024. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Netanyahu aide arrested over leaked documents linked to stalled hostage deal: What we know

At least five people have been detained in connection to sensitive intelligence documents leaked from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

France's President Emmanuel Macron and Morocco's King Mohammed VI

Analysis

In Morocco, France's Macron dangles Western Sahara concessions to mend ties

After years of diplomatic disputes, French President Emmanuel Macron is adamant on repairing ties with Morocco.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Mossad intelligence agency chief David Barnea (R) and Ronen Bar (2nd L), chief of Israel's domestic Shin Bet security agency, attend a ceremony.

Analysis

Iran expands spy network in Israel, recruiting Jews and Arabs for attacks

Iran is actively trying to recruit both Jews and Arabs for different spying tasks and to attack Israeli senior officials.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Israel arrests 7 nationals suspected of spying for Iran: What we know

Israeli authorities are saying the affair is one of the most serious espionage cases in recent Israeli history.

Debris lie around destroyed vehicles in a street under a residential building whose top two floors were hit by an Israeli strike in the Ghobeiri area of Beirut's southern suburbs on September 24, 2024. A Lebanese security source said on September 24 that an Israeli strike hit Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold, as the Israel army confirmed it carried out the strike in the Lebanese capital without giving further details. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel's 2 goals in Lebanon: Decouple Hezbollah-Gaza, restore deterrence

"Our aspiration is to strike Hezbollah with a force that it has not yet experienced, while remaining below the threshold of regional war or bringing Iran into direct war," a senior Israeli political source told Al-Monitor.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

An Iranian border outpost is seen behind a part of Turkey’s newly completed border wall on the Turkey-Iran border, Caldiran, Turkey, July 10, 2021.

Israeli indicted for espionage in alleged Iran scheme to kill PM, defense minister

Israel Police and Shin Bet suspect that Moti Maman traveled twice to Iran, where he was asked to help carry out a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Gallant or another senior officials.

Israeli soldiers mourn

Commander of Israeli intelligence unit resigns over 'systematic failure' of Oct. 7

The commander of Israeli intelligence Unit 8200, Brig. Gen. Yossi Sariel, has announced his resignation over the military's failure to stop Hamas' Oct. 7 assault.

Turkish police special forces take position near the police headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey, April 1, 2015.

Turkey arrests alleged Mossad operative running money network

Turkey has detained an individual accused of funding the Israeli intelligence service Mossad’s activities in Syria.

MUNICH, GERMANY - JANUARY 24: Pavel Durov of Vkontakte speaks during the Digital Life Design conference (DLD) at HVB Forum on January 24, 2012 in Munich, Germany. ence and culture which connects business, creative and social leaders, opinion-formers and investors for crossover conversation and inspiration. (Photo by Nadine Rupp/Getty Images)

Analysis

Telegram CEO's arrest spotlights UAE’s investment-based citizenship laws

The United Arab Emirates is showing that it takes its citizenship laws seriously and has vowed to fight for Telegram founder Pavel Durov.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Debris litters a loading dock a day after Israeli strikes on the port of Yemen's Houthi-held city of Hodeida on July 21, 2024.

Analysis

Israel’s Yemen attack against Houthis warning to nuclear Iran

While concerns grow in Israel over the continued drone and missile attacks by the Houthis in Yemen, the real threat remains that of Iran.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 04: Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines speaks during a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 04, 2023 in Washington, DC. Haines testified alongside Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier and took questions on the intelligence communities annual threat assessment. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Top intelligence official warns Iran meddling in Gaza protests inside US

The director of national intelligence said "actors tied to Iran's government" are encouraging the protests and "even providing financial support" to those participating.